Timely Release of eBus Timetable Crucial for Reducing Peak Traffic Flow

A Nelson bus on Saturday 15 July 2023. Photo Mark Rosser

Nelson and Tasman Residents Await Comprehensive Schedule for Sustainable Public Transportation

Residents of Nelson and Tasman are eagerly anticipating the upcoming eBus service, set to revolutionise public transportation in the region. However, with the service's launch date of August 1st, the timely release of the comprehensive eBus timetable by the Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council is of utmost importance. As the primary means of public transportation between Nelson and Tasman currently are diesel buses, the eBus service provides a sustainable and efficient alternative. To encourage commuters to embrace the eBus service, addressing peak hours and high-demand areas in the timetable is crucial.

To ensure a smooth transition and allow residents to plan their commuting routines, it is imperative that the Tasman District Council and Nelson City promptly make the comprehensive eBus timetable accessible to the public. With the 16th of July already upon us, providing advance access to the timetable will empower individuals to make informed decisions and adapt their travel plans accordingly. By having ample time to familiarise themselves with the schedules, residents can confidently choose the eBus service as a reliable mode of transportation.

The eBus timetable should prioritise frequent and reliable bus services during peak hours, particularly in high-demand areas. By addressing the transportation needs of residents during these busy periods, the councils can entice individuals away from private vehicles and onto the eBuses, ultimately reducing peak traffic flow. Prioritising connectivity between key locations within Nelson and Tasman is essential to ensure the eBus service efficiently caters to residents' travel requirements.

To further enhance the effectiveness of the eBus timetable, the Tasman District Council and Nelson City should actively seek feedback from the community. Conducting surveys or public consultations will provide valuable insights into residents' preferences and requirements. By incorporating community feedback, the councils can refine the eBus timetable to better meet the needs of the population. This inclusive approach will increase the timetable's appeal and encourage greater ridership, ultimately contributing to reduced congestion on the roads.

The utilisation of technology will be instrumental in optimising the eBus service. Implementing a user-friendly online platform that offers real-time bus tracking and updates will empower passengers to plan their journeys more efficiently. By providing accurate information about bus arrival times and potential delays, residents can confidently rely on the eBus service as a reliable mode of transportation. This technology-driven approach will enhance the overall travel experience, promoting the eBus service as an attractive alternative to private vehicles.

In conclusion, the timely release of the comprehensive eBus timetable is crucial for reducing peak traffic flow between Nelson and Tasman. As residents eagerly await the launch of the service, ensuring they have access to the timetable well in advance will allow for informed decision-making and efficient travel planning. By addressing peak hours and high-demand areas in the timetable, prioritising connectivity, incorporating community feedback, and leveraging technology, the councils can successfully encourage residents to embrace the eBus service and experience the benefits of sustainable and efficient public transportation.

The new eBuses for Nelson and Tasman

Pigeon Post News Richmond, Tasman

Book for Department of Conservation Great Walks

Abel Tasman Coast Track - Located in Abel Tasman National Park in the Tasman Region 

New booking dates open this month for DOC Great Walks

DOC has announced new opening dates for booking Great Walks and other facilities for the 2023/24 season (excluding Milford which booked out on 20 April).

When DOC went to release opening dates in May for the rest of the Great Walks, technical difficulties forced a postponement of that release.

“We are now pleased to announce that the rest of the Great Walks bookings will open from 11 July,” says Cat Wilson, Director of Heritage and Visitors.

“The fixes made to the booking system have been tested extensively by our vendor and an independent specialist, so we have the assurance we need to re-open bookings soon.

“We are grateful to everyone for their patience and understanding and appreciate the time it has taken to make the required changes to the system mean we are opening bookings later than usual.”

The new dates are as follows:

Great Walks

• Tuesday, 11 July 2023, 9.30 am – Tongariro Northern Circuit
• Wednesday, 12 July 2023, 9.30 am – Rakiura Track
• Thursday, 13 July 2023, 9.30 am – Paparoa Track
• Tuesday, 18 July 2023, 9.30 am – Abel Tasman Coast Track
• Wednesday, 19 July 2023, 9.30 am – Whanganui Journey
• Thursday, 20 July 2023, 9.30 am – Kepler Track
• Tuesday, 25 July 2023, 9.30 am – Routeburn Track
• Wednesday, 26 July 2023, 9.30 am – Heaphy Track*

*Due to storm damage, the Heaphy Track can be booked from either end up to 19 October 2023, with the full track expected to be open as a through trip from this date.

Lake Waikaremoana is closed due to damage. 

Milford Track is sold out.  

Huts, lodges, campsites

• Thursday, 27 July 2023, 9.30 am – Momorangi Bay Campground
• Tuesday, 1 August 2023, 9.30 am – South Island huts, campsites and lodges
• Wednesday, 2 August 2023, 9.30 am – North Island huts, campsites and lodges
• Thursday, 3 August 2023, 9.30 am – Tōtaranui Campground

Department of Conservation

Pigeon Post News, Richmond

MetService forecast covering period of Thursday 6th - Monday 10th July

 

A wet weekend ahead for some

A narrow ridge of high pressure provides a spell of fine and frosty weather for most of Aotearoa New Zealand today (Thursday) and on Friday. However, MetService is forecasting a rainy end to the week for northern and eastern parts of the country as a low pressure system and its associated fronts close in.

Central and southern regions wake to another cold and clear day on Friday, with frost expected for many areas south of Waikato. MetService Meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon says: “After a week of frosty mornings, overnight temperatures should rise for most of the country this weekend as wet and windy weather takes over. For Southland and Otago, however, those cold temperatures are expected to stick around into next week.”

A band of rain and strong northeasterly winds move across the North Island and western parts of the South Island on Friday, followed by a showery northwest flow. By Saturday, a low pressure centre develops on the front and spirals east of the North Island, and by the end of the weekend most corners of the country will have seen some wet weather.

The eastern parts of the North and South Islands will be the areas to watch this weekend, as some could see some heavier bouts of rain. 

“While there is still some question as to exactly where the low centre will form, which will determine where the heaviest rain falls, the most likely areas will be along the eastern stretch of the country. Residents are encouraged to keep an eye on MetService.com as the situation develops,” Wotherspoon advises.

For those looking to spend their school holidays outdoors, Thursday and Friday morning are looking to have the best weather. There are also a few good days on the horizon next week as the low moves away.

MetService

Pigeon Post News, Richmond

Fire and Emergency NZ latest news

 

Fire and Emergency NZ Training Accreditation has been Downgraded

Today NZQA has published an External Evaluation and Review (EER) into Fire and Emergency’s approval and accreditation of its NZQA accredited training programmes and unit standards.

For background, Fire and Emergency is accredited for two NZQA accredited programmes and approximately 300 different, individual NZQA Unit Standards. Last year alone, 13,500 unit standards were achieved across 60 different unit standards.

The EER confirms a downgrade from being a category 2 to a category 4 Government Training Establishment provider. We fully accept there are areas we need to improve, and we are working hard to do better by our people, the other agencies we provide training for and all New Zealanders. 

We had already identified the areas for improvement set out in the EER and work was already underway when the EER was undertaken.

We are confident the training our people are providing to personnel is of a high standard. 

This downgrade is focused on the systems and processes we have in place to provide assurance over the quality of our training and assessments. 

We are engaging with two external providers to support us as we work through the redevelopment and moderation of the assessments that need reviewing.

Whilst overall confidence of the Fire and Emergency training system cannot be assured until the time of the next EER, significant steps in the right direction have occurred.

It is on this basis, and the assurance of the external oversight that will be provided by external providers, that has given NZQA the confidence to grant an exemption to the normal restrictions that would apply to a Category Four provider. 

The steps taken to date have clearly indicated the systems put in place provide assurance that the training delivered will be to the required standard.

Fire and Emergency NZ

Pigeon Post News Richmond, Tasman.

MetService News Release

A few days of windy, showery weather 

New Zealand is in for a few days of windy, showery weather according to MetService. A strong and unstable south-westerly flow will affect the entire country until early next week. 

MetService meteorologist Alain Baillie says, "This will mean snow to very low levels in the far south, with heavy snow possible in elevated areas, including the resorts near Queenstown, with the town itself also likely to get snow.”  

Snow could also fall to 200 metres around Dunedin, and 300 metres over Banks Peninsula from Saturday night, which will affect many roads.  

Those travelling about the South Island, particularly if you’re traveling through passes, should check the MetService website for Road Snow Warnings and with Waka Kotahi NZTA regarding road closures before heading out.  

“Severe gale winds are possible for the entire North Island, particularly the east coast south of Napier, as well as parts of Nelson and Marlborough and the southern and eastern coasts of the South Island from Saturday until Monday.” 

“Meanwhile, heavy rain could impact from the Central Plateau south to the Tararua Range and the Buller region of the South Island from Saturday,” Baillie continues. 

The forecast temperatures across the weekend are about average for this time of year, but this could be deceptive.

“The strong wind and frequent showers will mean the 15 degrees forecast for Auckland will feel more like 8 or 9 degrees. Dunedin and Invercargill are forecast to reach only 6 degrees on Sunday, but it will feel literally freezing for most of the time, so layer up if venturing outside.”, Baillie cautions. 

The weather will slowly ease through Monday and Tuesday as a welcome high pressure system inches its way across the Tasman Sea. 

Please keep up to date with the most current information from MetService at metservice.com/

MetService

Pigeon Post News, Richmond

Tasman’s Annual Plan adopted and Rates set for next twelve months

 

ONLY 97 SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED BY TASMAN DISTRICT COUNCIL EVEN THOUGH A HIGH RATE INCREASE PROPOSED

Tasman District Council has adopted its Annual Plan for 2023/2024, enabling rates to be set for the next 12 months at a rates revenue increase of 8.57%.

The Annual Plan was adopted at a Full Council meeting on June 22, 2023 and confirms what services and projects we intend to deliver, what they will cost and how they will be funded.

Costs have been affected by higher-than-anticipated inflation, increased interest rates, labour shortages and greater depreciation costs.

As a result, this year’s Annual Plan has required us to look closely at our programme of works and capital projects while finding the best way to deliver essential services and infrastructure to the people of Tasman.

Acting Mayor Stuart Bryant said the decision to increase rates was not taken lightly, especially at a time when many households and businesses were dealing with the pressures of the high cost of living, uncertain economic conditions and potential effects of adverse weather events.

“Significant discussion and work has been undertaken by staff and elected members to reduce the rates increase from the initial 9.06%.”

“However, any rates increase is another cost for the community, and so it is important to ensure the necessary service levels and investment is balanced by the cost to the community. 

“Adopting our Annual Plan will help us meet community concerns about increased costs while ensuring the Council’s position remains sustainable.”

There were 97 submissions received on the Annual Plan with most submitters favouring proposed budget reductions included in the consultation document.

As a result, some changes have been made to what was set out in Tasman’s 10- year Plan for 2023/2024 to help contain the rates revenue increase.

This included using a combination of Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) credits and forestry surpluses, reallocating Better Off Funding from the Government while using more reserve financial contributions to help fund the development of specific recreation and cultural facilities.

While these decisions will raise net debt, it will still allow us to remain within the cap of $250 million at the end of the 2023/2024 financial year.

The Annual Plan budget has included a number of new social and environmental projects for 2023/2024, including;

• New public transport service starting in mid-2023, to Motueka (via Māpua and Tasman) and Wakefield (via Brightwater and Hope).
• Significant improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure in Richmond, Motueka and Māpua.
• $1 million to increase road maintenance.
• Starting a joint plan with Nelson City Council to replace the Nelson and Tasman Resource Management Plans with a new combined plan.
• Producing new freshwater plans to implement the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management.
• Carrying out planting and upgrading recreation facilities at Kingsland Forest Park.

The final Annual Plan document will be available on the Council’s website in the coming weeks. Copies will also be made available at the Council’s service centres and libraries.

The Council also increased its fees and charges for services for the 2023-24 year. The nearly 10% increase across all fees and charges is to take account of the stagnant or reduced charges over the last two years designed to minimise the impact of Covid recovery and a slowing economy.

Stuart said as the economy begins to right itself it is now appropriate to ensure the fees and charges  reflect the true cost of delivering those services. 

“Fundamentally those that use the services, which include Resource and Building consents, licences and hire of facilities amongst others - and gain benefit - should be paying for them.”

“These costs should not be subsidised by all ratepayers, especially when they see no benefit. In effect, the increase and righting of fees and charges provides a greater level of transparency to the costs of the organisation.”

The new fees and charges will apply from 1 July 2023.

Tasman District Council

Pigeon Post News, Richmond

GO Rentals new facility at Nelson Airport

Nelson Airport

Nelson Airport development continues with new facility for GO Rentals

Multi-award winning national rental car company GO Rentals has begun construction of a modern, new facility for its back of house car grooming and maintenance at Nelson Airport.

The facility, a 230 square metre building on a 2000 sqm site, is the first phase of Nelson Airport’s future development plans. The airport has been granted resource consent to develop 8000 square metres of land and create a road at the southern end of the airport precinct.

Construction of GO Rentals’ new building began on Monday 19 June. It will provide for the company’s car grooming, maintenance and vehicle storage on-site, allowing for more efficient servicing of its airport rental car fleet. The facility will be complete by early 2024.

Clear roofing panels will reduce day-time lighting requirements, recycled asphalt millings are part of the asphalt mix and aggregates that are removed from the Value Carpark will be reused in the construction of new pavement around the site.

GO Rentals Chief Operating Officer James Dalglish says the development is an exciting step for the company and Nelson Airport, and will contribute to GO Rentals’ journey towards a climate-friendly rental car fleet and operations. The company already offers a range of electric vehicles within its Nelson fleet, including Tesla’s, BYD and new hybrids.

“We know our customers want low-emission options and our goal is to increase these at Nelson Airport over time. By this time next year, a third of our fleet will be clean-energy powered (a mix of EV and hybrid),” James says. The new facility will be equipped with EV charging facilities.

GO Rentals is paving the way in the car rental industry in terms of sustainability and climate change action and is New Zealand’s first rental car business to partner with CarbonClick. When customers rent a vehicle with GO Rentals, they get the opportunity to offset their emissions with CarbonClick – reducing the impact of their drive and can calculate their driving footprint by offsetting via the website. The rental car company are also proud to be Toitū net Carbonzero recertified, accurately measuring the greenhouse gas footprint of their business.   

“We have a lot of confidence in Nelson Airport as a base of operations and can see a strong future for GO Rentals in this location,” James says.

The airport has seen passenger numbers return at a stronger rate than forecast over the past year, and is now anticipating 900,000 travellers will have passed through the terminal by the end of the financial year on 30 June 2023.

Airport Commercial Manager Simon Barr says the development shows the return of travel demand post-Covid is great for airport-related businesses and the wider region.

“A successful airport contributes to the sustainability and prosperity of the region, so we’re thrilled to see the return of activity and the exciting development that it’s unlocking at the precinct, including this development with GO Rentals.”

The next phase of the airport’s development plan is to create additional commercial and light industrial tenancies in the area currently occupied by the Value Carpark. Work is underway to look at the options for catering for future carparking demand in a different location. Work will commence soon on consent applications for future development stages.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond